Actors Who Had To Work With Their Exes Despite Awkward Breakup Vibes

Zendaya & Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi didn’t just make headlines with Joey King, he later sparked romance rumors with Euphoria co-star Zendaya. From Greek vacations to cozy New York sightings, the two had fans buzzing. But by 2020, it was over as quietly as it began. Still, they continued filming together without drama.

Zach Braff and Florence Pugh

You might think working with an ex would be awkward, unless you're Zach Braff and Florence Pugh. The two started A Good Person while dating, and though they called it quits before the press tour, Braff only has praise for Pugh’s powerhouse performance. He’s gushed publicly that she’s “one of the best actresses working today,” and even spent time with her family during the promotional phase.

Jennifer Aniston & Tate Donovan

Imagine filming flirty scenes with your ex while the breakup is still fresh, that’s exactly what Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovan endured on Friends. Donovan played Rachel’s love interest Joshua while he and Aniston were calling it quits offscreen. He later admitted it was “tough” to pretend to fall in love while breaking up in real life. Still, the episodes turned out smooth, and fans never suspected the behind-the-scenes tension.

Sophia Bush & Chad Michael Murray

Few co-star relationships are as infamous as Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murray’s whirlwind marriage. They wed in 2005, only to split five months later, right as One Tree Hill producers leaned into the tabloid storm. Bush later called it an immature mistake but stayed professional for the sake of her character, Brooke. Despite behind-the-scenes awkwardness, she never let personal issues get in the way of delivering the story fans loved.

Rachel Bilson & Adam Brody

As Seth and Summer, Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody defined teen romance on The O.C.. Offscreen, their real-life relationship mirrored their characters’ chemistry for three years. When they split before the show’s finale, their onscreen love story didn’t miss a beat. Their characters married in the series finale, cementing their legacy as one of TV’s most iconic couples.

Olivia Rodrigo & Joshua Bassett

Did they? Didn’t they? Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett kept everyone guessing about whether they were ever officially a couple. The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-stars fueled endless speculation after Rodrigo dropped her smash hit “Drivers License” in 2021 and Bassett fired back with his own music, both full of eyebrow-raising lyrics. Fans were convinced they were watching a breakup play out through Spotify streams. Still, whatever went down offscreen, the two kept things cool when it came time to work.

Nina Dobrev & Ian Somerhalder

Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder split in 2013, but their on-screen romance in The Vampire Diaries never faltered. Fans still believed in Damon and Elena, even when the actors’ real relationship was over. The pair even won a People’s Choice Award for Best Chemistry post-breakup. Dobrev joked on stage that it was “a good thing it’s not awkward,” and she wasn’t lying.

Jennifer Lawrence & Nicholas Hoult

Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult’s romance was as much a part of the X-Men era as blue paint and mutant drama. They dated for several years before breaking up in 2014, right as filming wrapped. Lawrence later described it as a year of reinvention, figuring out who she was without the movies or the relationship. Hoult kept it simple, saying working with her afterward felt like “going back to school after the summer.”

Madelyn Cline & Chase Stokes

You’re shooting 30 episodes of a hit show with someone you used to date, and both agree work comes first. That was exactly the pact Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes made before dating Outer Banks. After a year and a half together, they split—but their professional promises held strong. Stokes elaborated that they vowed the show would never be overshadowed by their personal lives.

Lili Reinhart & Cole Sprouse

Not all showmances survive the long run, but Riverdale stars Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse gave it a good shot. Fans shipped Betty and Jughead hard, and their real-life relationship confirmed the sparks. But after going public in 2018, they split for good in 2020. Sprouse announced it on Instagram with heartfelt words, wishing Reinhart happiness. Still, both actors kept delivering as the beloved teen duo.

Kyle Maclachlan & Laura Dern

Some reunions are sweet, others are surreal. For Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern, who dated in the ’80s, their 2017 Twin Peaks reunion came with a sex scene. MacLachlan admitted the experience was “weird” but said director David Lynch guided them through with ease. Both actors laughed off the strangeness and powered through. Decades after their romance ended, they proved that you can put the past aside and create art; even in the most intimate, Lynchian of circumstances.

Katie Holmes & Joshua Jackson

Long before her Tom Cruise era, Katie Holmes was caught up in a sweet teen romance with Dawson’s Creek co-star Joshua Jackson. She described him as her first love in 1998, a time she would always treasure. They split just a year later, but with their characters Joey and Pacey’s love story just heating up, the pair had to keep the spark alive on screen until the show ended in 2003.

Kaley Cuoco & Johnny Galecki

Before Penny and Leonard became sitcom royalty, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki were quietly dating offscreen. Their relationship ended in 2010, just as their fictional counterparts’ romance deepened on The Big Bang Theory. But instead of awkward silences, Galecki described their post-breakup dynamic as rooted in “massive doses of mutual love and respect.”

Joey King & Jacob Elordi

The ultimate rom-com twist: Joey King and Jacob Elordi were dating when they shot The Kissing Booth, only to split before the sequel. That left them filming love scenes with an ex, all while millions of fans speculated about their real relationship. King later admitted it wasn’t easy but said Elle’s story mattered more than her personal life. She pushed through the awkwardness to give audiences the romance they wanted.

Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony

J.Lo and Marc Anthony’s love story didn’t end with their divorce in 2011. They turned the page into creative collaborators, launching Q’Viva! The Chosen in 2012 and recording music together in 2016. Lopez once admitted she feared working together might stir tension, but instead, it strengthened their bond. Anthony called their relationship a lifelong story with different chapters; marriage, kids, and now collaboration.

Jennifer Garner & Michael Vartan

Before Ben Affleck came into the picture, Jennifer Garner dated her Alias co-star Michael Vartan for a brief stint. Their relationship ended in 2004, but their working relationship lasted until 2006 when the show wrapped. Far from bitter, the two stayed friends. Vartan has even clarified years later that a romantic reunion is unlikely, but their friendship remains solid.

Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber

After 11 years together, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber ended their relationship in 2016. But soon after, they starred opposite each other as husband and wife in Chuck. Schreiber later called working with Watts “a treat,” praising her commitment to the role. The two have remained on friendly terms since their split, co-parenting their kids and supporting each other’s careers. Their ability to maintain warmth and professionalism makes them a model of how Hollywood exes can move forward without the drama.

Dwayne Johnson & Dany Garcia

Most divorced couples don’t go into business together, but Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia aren’t most couples. After splitting in 2007, they built one of Hollywood’s most successful partnerships. Garcia produces many of Johnson’s films, including Hobbs & Shaw. The Rock has admitted it wasn’t easy, they had to put in therapy, effort, and mutual respect, but their foundation as friends carried them through.

Christina Anstead & Tarek El Moussa

HGTV’s Flip or Flop thrived on chemistry, but even after Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa’s marriage ended in 2016, the show didn’t. They kept flipping houses together for five more years, staying cordial for the cameras and their kids. By 2022, though, the professional closeness became too much, and they decided to end the show.

Camila Mendes & Charles Melton

On Riverdale, Veronica and Reggie made sparks fly, and for a while, so did Camila Mendes and Charles Melton in real life. Their romance went Instagram official, but by their one-year mark, they quietly stepped back. Even with the breakup, their onscreen partnership didn’t falter. The chemistry stayed hot, the drama stayed fictional, and the show rolled on without missing a beat.

Blake Lively & Penn Badgley

Behind Gossip Girl’s glittery scandals, Blake Lively and Penn Badgley were living their own love story. Their romance ended in 2010, but as Serena and Dan, their connection had to keep playing out on screen. Badgley later admitted that both handled the situation with professionalism, never letting personal issues derail the show. Their seamless acting proved they could keep things cool under pressure.

BJ Novak & Mindy Kaling

If you asked BJ Novak, he’d admit he never really knew whether he and Mindy Kaling were dating, or not. Their relationship danced around definitions. But when it came to The Office, their onscreen roles as Kelly and Ryan never missed a beat. Though their personal drama was vague, their professional bond stayed strong. Today, they’re not exes in resentment—they’re best friends.

Amanda Seyfried & Dominic Cooper

Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper’s romance began on the sunny set of Mamma Mia! in 2008. They dated for three years before parting ways, but fate brought them back for the 2018 sequel. Playing newlyweds post-breakup wasn’t exactly seamless, especially since Seyfried’s husband wasn’t thrilled about the arrangement. But both actors handled it with humor and maturity, slipping back into their roles like old times.